The Development of Tourism Souvenir for Community Based Tourism in Bakchum Village, Nonkor Subdistrict, Sirintorn District, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

     This research aims to investigate (1) the cultural identities of Bakchum community in Ubon Ratchathani province in order to develop tourism souvenirs related to community identities, (2) the tourist’s demands toward tourism souvenirs in Bakchum community and (3) the models of tourism souvenir related to the tourists’ demands and the cultural identities of Bakchum community. This research was both qualitative and quantitative research. The researcher collected data by providing 400 questionnaires to Thai tourists and interview 5 community headers, 2 officers from local government in tourism organization. The results of the research was analyzed by descriptive and statistical analysis.

                   The results of the research found that most tourists were male between 31-40 years old. They graduated in bachelor degree and worked as the business owner. Their incomes were between 30,001-40,000 baht per month. In terms of tourists’ demands towards the tourism souvenirs in Bakchum community, there were three categories of most tourists favored to the tourism souvenirs that could reflect community identities; (1) local identities, (2) souvenir attributes, and (3) art and aesthetic values. In terms of local identities, the tourists desired the tourism souvenirs that could reflect the local identities in the high level, especially the tourism souvenirs that could represent community arts and crafts. For the souvenirs attributes, the tourists desired the strong and durable tourism souvenirs with the highest level. Moreover, for the  art and aesthetic values, the tourists required tourism souvenirs that made of local materials with the highest level. Therefore, in developing the tourism souvenirs in Bakchum community, local people should create their souvenirs that could represent more community identities. They should increase aesthetic values and distinguished into their tourism souvenirs. In addition, increasing activities tourists to participate in the created souvenirs in order to sentimental value and attract the tourist's demands towards their tourism souvenirs. However, in developing the tourism souvenirs requires participation of the relevant authorities to souvenirs development in order to compliance with local resources and tourist’s demands.

In conclusion, the characteristic of the tourism souvenir in Bakchum community that could reach the tourist’s demands and reflect community identities, there should be the increasing of tourism souvenirs value towards the interpretation of community identity, local diving and furniture making towards to the key chains, decorations and increasing modern designs. Moreover, there should be the story telling and creative idea into the tourism souvenirs with the worthiness of products.